ACRYLAMIDE

What is it?

“Acrylamide (or acrylic amide) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula C3H5NO. Its IUPAC name is prop-2-enamide. It is a white odorless crystalline solid, soluble in water, ethanol, ether, and chloroform.” –Acrylamide wiki

Acrylamide regulation

This chemical is prohibited for use in cosmetics in Canada and the EU. The EU, where it is often called akrylamid, also has a regulation that limits the amount allowed in the compound polyacrylamide. Polyacrylamide is a compound that contains repeated molecules of acrylamide.

The United States, on the other hand, does not currently (2018) regulate the amount of acrylamide allowed in products containing polyacrylamide.

Acrylamide – cancer and other side effects

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has registered the substance as

“toxic if swallowed, may cause genetic defects, may cause cancer, causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, is harmful in contact with skin, causes serious eye irritation, is harmful if inhaled, causes skin irritation, may cause an allergic skin reaction and is suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.”

Acrylamide is on ECHA’s Candidate List of “Substances of Very High Concern.”

Also, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a project of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners has classified acrylamide as a carcinogen, developmental toxicant, and an occupational hazard.

They have also included this ingredient on their Red List. The list contains ingredients that they recommend that you avoid due to their serious negative effects on human health.

Enhanced skin absorption

This substance has in studies proved to be substantially absorbed through the skin. In other words, if you are using a product containing this ingredient it will easily penetrate and be absorbed by your skin.

This could also mean that acrylamide enhances also the absorption of other ingredients from the same product.

Acrylamide in food

Acrylamide is one of those chemicals that also occurs naturally. It can be formed in some starchy foods when you cook them at high temperatures.

Some examples are:

potato chips

cereals

cookies

toasts

french fries

Acrylamide coffee

Unfortunately, this chemical can also be found in coffee. It is, similar to when you find it in foods, formed naturally in a chemical reaction that occurs during roasting (high temperatures).

How to avoid

In cosmetics – If you want to avoid buying and using products that contain acrylamide, use our free Ingredient Scanner. You simply have to scan the ingredients and all harmful chemicals, including those containing acrylamide, gets marked. So you can avoid them easily.

We use the European Commissions definition of Cosmetics:
“Cosmetics range from everyday hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste to luxury beauty items including perfumes and makeup”.

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